Reigning Super Bowl champions Buccaneers (4-1) travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles (2-3) on Thursday. Both teams are coming off a win and the Eagles are looking for their first home win.
Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles
- Money line: Tampa Bay (-300) | Philadelphia (+240)
- Spread: Tampa Bay -7 (+100) | Philadelphia +7 (-118)
- Total: 52.5-Over (-110) | Less (-110)
- Game information: October 14, 2021, 8:20 pm ET | Fox
Tampa Bay is the favorite on Thursday and with good reason.
The Bucs lead the league in passing yards, are second in passing touchdowns and third in both points scored and total yards. Tom Brady is a timeless marvel, surpassing 400 passing yards in two games and adding a pair of five-touchdown performances. It’s enough to make you want to stop eating strawberries forever.
Tampa Bay’s offense is averaging 33.5 points per game, while its defense has not been as sharp, allowing 24.5 points per game. The rushing defense remains strong while the secondary has struggled, allowing the third-most passing yards to quarterbacks and the fifth-most yards to opposing wide receivers.
Philadelphia is struggling to find its groove with new coach Nick Sirianni and second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts at the helm, but the offense has shown flashes of promise with Hurts at the center. Hurts is the kind of quarterback that’s always good for your fantasy team, although he may not always be good for your real-life team. He has a solid floor, but can fight as a passer.
However, this showdown is one in which we could see Hurts enjoy more success. Facing Atlanta in Week 1, Hurts completed 77% of his passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. The Tampa Bay secondary should be an equally smooth showdown. Philadelphia is averaging 23 points per game, while its defense allows 24.8.
The Eagles’ defense contrasts with Tampa Bay’s in that it is strong against passing, allowing just 605 yards and five passing touchdowns to receivers and limiting quarterbacks to the third fewest passing yards. Only the Bills and Panthers have allowed less.
I hope Tampa Bay wins this with a touchdown, and I like the extra money for the Buccaneers that covers the 7-point margin. The Eagles should limit Brady to less than 300 yards, and Hurts will make some big shots in garbage time. I predict that the game total will remain below 52.5 points. I will also take the BELOW on 6.5 touchdowns scored.
Now, let’s have fun choosing how those scores happen!
Check the odds in SI Sportsbook
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Leonard Fournette anytime TD +105
Fournette is set for another good game against a Philadelphia rushing defense that allows the fourth-most rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown to running backs.
Devonta Smith Anytime TD +150
The Tampa Bay secondary has allowed an average of 204 yards per game and 1.4 touchdowns to wide receivers. He has also allowed the third-most passing yards and 13 touchdowns for quarterbacks. Smith and Hurts have the best connection on this team, with Smith playing 90% of the plays and seeing an average of eight goals per game. Smith hasn’t found the end zone since week one, but that changes Thursday night.
Zach Ertz anytime TD +230
The Bucs have allowed 320 yards, three touchdowns and an 80% catch rate for tight ends. Ertz has been playing 60% of the snapshots and has seen 12% of the red zone chances with Dallas Goedert playing, and Goedert may miss this game after being placed on the reserve / COVID-19 list. They want more? Ertz executes routes in 98% of its snapshots, blocking only 2% of the time. I love pairing young quarterbacks with experienced tight ends. The last time we saw Hurts in primetime, the Hurts-to-Ertz connection was on full screen. Ertz was attacked seven times and found the end zone against Dallas.
Tom Brady anytime TD +640
Philadelphia has been good against the passing, and I have a feeling we’ll see Brady’s quarterback slip away. Let’s scratch this primetime lottery ticket!
More bets:
• Betting ramification of Jon Gruden’s resignation
• World Series Futures and 2021 MLB Pennants
• Summary of bets for week 5 of the NFL
www.si.com
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.